What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Propanediol
Solvent
Kaolin
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Diatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cellulose
Absorbent
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Calamine
AbsorbentCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEthylcellulose
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentLauric Acid
Cleansing
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMannitol
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Water, Silica, Propanediol, Kaolin, Glycerin, Diatomaceous Earth, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Betaine, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Titanium Dioxide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cellulose, Charcoal Powder, Calamine, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethylcellulose, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Lauric Acid, Zea Mays Starch, Aluminum Hydroxide, Mannitol, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Salicylic Acid
Salix Alba Bark Water
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycolic Acid 7%
Buffering
Tromethamine
BufferingWater
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid 2%
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingArginine
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citric Acid 0.28%
Buffering
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
